Artist Mark Hall gave an open invitation this weekend to the entire community to participate in creating what may become Albert Lea’s signature work of art.

Monday, January 22, 2001

Artist Mark Hall gave an open invitation this weekend to the entire community to participate in creating what may become Albert Lea’s signature work of art.

&uot;This whole thing is just a fantastic idea,&uot; Hall told an audience at the high school. &uot;I think of it as a celebration of the community.&uot;

Hall is the commissioned artist chosen to tackle the art wall project at the new Albert Lea High School. He was officially introduced at the &uot;Light Up the Night&uot; reception Saturday.

&uot;In all honesty, the reason we were excited about Mark was his philosophy. He wants people involved. He’s an educator as well as an artist.,&uot; said Lilah Aas, co-chairwoman of the Comprehensive Arts Planning Committee (CAPP), which is overseeing the project.

Hall is preparing to begin the project, which could take as long as seven or eight months. The 80-foot wall is located opposite the administration entrance on the school’s southwest side. It’s actually the outside wall of the school’s gymnasium.

&uot;This is a very energetic proposition. I mean, this thing is huge,&uot; said Hall with a sweeping motion toward the wall.

Hall, a stained-glass artisan from Kasota, Minn., said the art wall will begin at a single point at the wall’s west end near a flight of stairs and flow to the other end as it gradually widens.

&uot;I’m imagining some undulating shapes and colors and materials incorporated with items from the community,&uot; said Hall. &uot;We’re talking plastic, metal, ceramic, wood, glass or anything that we can make work.&uot; Hall was chosen for the project from 10 interested artists because of his cooperative approach. He has pledged to involve the entire community as well as the students of Albert Lea Area Schools. The wall will become a giant art classroom.

&uot;You don’t have to be born with anything special to do art,&uot; said Hall. &uot;Seriously, anyone can do it. I’ve seen how people can get involved who never imagined themselves doing any art.&uot;

Hall said he views community art as an excuse to communicate with one another.

&uot;The art work is going to take care of itself,&uot; he said. &uot;If we have the participation, this is really going to take off.&uot;

Hall’s best known works are his &uot;Window of Hope&uot; at St Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato and the installation of new windows at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in St.Peter. He is also a certified stained glass instructor.

&uot;I’m excited to work on a project that’s school-related. I think art is a fantastic teaching opportunity,&uot; Hall said.

The project will cost about $40,000, said Dr. David Prescott, superintendent of schools.

Grants and private contributions are a major part of the funding behind the wall, Prescott said. &uot;It’s another example of the community involvement in this school. We’ve had a lot of community input from the very beginning.&uot;